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Like any branch of medicine, dentistry needs reliable and accessible data to diagnose and treat illnesses, from the most common cavity to something more serious like oral cancer. Good information means we’re able to pinpoint exactly where the problem lies and what’s causing it and solve it. Dental scanning in Sioux City plays a significant role in obtaining that information.

Thanks to advancements in imaging and scanning technologies, we can now better approach a number of procedures. If you have a dental exam and want to know what to expect, or if you received digital scanning and are unsure what it was about, we’ll explain how this technology works and its benefits.

What is Digital Scanning, and What Is it Used for?

In digital scanning, an intraoral camera system is used to view the oral cavity and identify possible dental health issues. By running these toothbrush-sized handheld cameras along the surfaces of a patient's teeth, a dentist can accurately capture their dimensions, form, and precise positioning.

This enables us to take pictures of your mouth without disturbing you, even in the most difficult-to-reach areas. It also helps perform restorative work by accurately modeling a patient’s oral cavity, as the images produced are transmitted directly to a monitor for real-time viewing.

It is possible to extract these precise dental measurements into small digital information files, which are subsequently promptly transmitted to dental labs. As a result, they can now create prescription appliances like crowns, veneers, bridgework, and implants far more quickly, easily, and affordably than in the past.

Furthermore, orthodontists can use this scanning technology to identify dental issues and administer the most effective care.

What Are the Benefits of Digital Scanning?

Intraoral cameras are far more practical than the dental mirrors that dentists have traditionally used. First, compared to conventional messy oral modeling tools, they are far more hygienic, patient-safe, and fit comfortably inside your mouth.

They are also incredibly accurate; the system generates exact imaging of structures as small as 20 mm by processing over a million three-dimensional points per second.

This expedites diagnosis and treatment.

Why Is Prompt Diagnosis So Important?

When it comes to dental health, prompt diagnosis is crucial.

• First, problems like cavities, gum disease, or oral infections can be prevented from progressing to more serious stages by being detected early. If caught early, a small cavity can be treated with a simple filling. If left untreated, it may require more invasive treatment.
• Consequently, issues caught early tend to be less costly to treat. Root canal treatments often require a crown placement afterward, which can be more expensive than a normal filling.
• Lastly, early treatment is also more effective. For example, early orthodontic intervention for malocclusions (misaligned teeth) may avoid the need for more involved procedures in the future.

Get an Accurate Diagnosis with Dental Scanning in Sioux City

As digital technology develops, dentists can use a range of new techniques to give their patients better experiences and more satisfying results.

Technologies like digital X-rays and intraoral scans help us diagnose issues that might not be apparent to the naked eye and provide more effective, efficient, and economical treatment while reducing discomfort. If you’d like to learn more about the technology we have at Wheelock & Associates Dentistry, reach out!

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